Venture Leaders Fintech 2023: Captain’s blog by Stephan Kolz, Founder and CEO of Yourasset

In early December, the ten Venture Leaders Fintech 2023 set off to London to connect with investors and learn from industry experts. We asked Venture Leaders Fintech Team Captain Stephan Kolz to share his experience and take us behind the scenes of the week-long roadshow.

Monday, December 4th, 2023
The week started with an early morning rendezvous at the airport gate, setting the tone for an action-packed agenda. Touching down in London, we checked in at Paddington's Hotel: We were ready to discover the local fintech landscape. The adventure began with a strategic meeting at the Swiss Embassy in the UK, which offered us insights into the UK fintech market and the nuances of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). After meeting Charlotte Chenu, Luz-Peter Berg, and Angela Zollinger—representatives of the Swiss Embassy in London—the stage was ready for an intensive pitch session at the Teachers' Venture Growth fund office. We could present our startups in a 3-minute format while the various present investors asked detailed and sometimes challenging questions. Thanks to their honest feedback each of us could refine parts of the pitch for the upcoming days. We concluded the first session with an aperitif that allowed us to chat individually with some of the investors. On the way back to the hotel, I was given the honour—as the team captain—to pick out a small and delicious Argentinian steak restaurant for dinner.



Tuesday
As the week progressed, we proved our resilience and adaptability as a team. Forestay Capital, Hedosophia, Q Ventures, and Octopus Ventures witnessed the second 3-minute pitch session at Portman Square, highlighting the incorporation of feedback from the previous day. The day continued with a meeting at checkout.com, where we engaged in a deep and interesting dialogue with Swiss founder Guillaume Pousaz, emphasizing the essential role of the founder in promoting innovation, as pure logic won’t suffice.



Wednesday
Midweek, we had a 30-minute ride and travelled by the new Elizabeth underground line to the vaunted and much awaited Fintech Connect, where we were equipped with a speaker badge: We approached the center stage and presented our companies on a global platform. The fair, sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in the UK, provided an avenue for networking and collaboration, solidifying the presence of Swiss fintech on the international stage. The day concluded with a Postfinance networking reception in Shoreditch, symbolizing the convergence of innovation and fellowship.


The ten Venture Leaders Fintech 2023 at the Fintech Connect London

Thursday
The day brought a blend of business and leisure, with some founders delving into the Fintech Connect event while others engaged in individual meetings with investors in the city. Against the backdrop of London's iconic weather, I took a moment to explore the luxury watch boutiques, drawing parallels with the supply-constrained challenges faced in Switzerland. The day concluded with an informal gathering at The George in Soho, followed by a Swiss Fondue feast at St. Moritz, where gratitude was extended to the hosts for organizing a week loaded with great opportunities.



Friday
On the last day of our roadshow, we deepened the intricacies of Revolut's business model in Canary Wharf. Charlotte Chenu facilitated an insightful presentation, capping off a week of immersive learning and strategic discussions. To conclude the London roadshow, Stefan Steiner—Co-Managing Director at Venturelab—and the hosts, organized a fun team activity, symbolizing the cohesion and success achieved during this incredible week.



About the experience
Being a part of the Venture Leaders Fintech Team 2023 was a great honor and experience. It was impressive to learn more about each startup and get to know each other personally throughout the week. Thanks to the meticulous organization of the Swissnex and Venturelab team, we could extend our network in London with relevant investors and potential business partners. All this was made possible also by the support of the sponsors EPFL, ETH Zürich, Postfinance, and Walder Wyss, not to forget our compelling business model pitches. We surely built lasting relationships, our group continues vividly even after the roadshow, and I am looking forward to our next get-together.